Declave: RollerForks® are fast, simple and reliable!

Delcave has purchased Rollerforks for unloading their containers fast and easily because of an increasing stream of goods that are being transported in containers. A good choice because it saves the logistic service industrial in wine and spirits a lot of time and also unhealthy handwork is avoided.

“It is simple and perfect, think about it!” Koos Janssen, manager at Delcave from Doesburg enjoys the sight of Rollerforks at work. A recently arrived transport ship is almost completely unloaded. The lift truck driver places the “forks with rollers” (RollerForks) under a load of Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay from Australia. As if helped by an invisible hand, the whole stack slides easily on the forks.

The driver lifts it up, drives backwards, makes a turn and places the load on a pallet. There are no pallets in the container because this would create an unnecessary loss of volume. For optimal use of space a load is placed on ultra-flat slip-sheets. “ By doing this we create an extra volume of 8 % in every container”, says Janssen. “ To use the correct metaphorical term: more drink for your dollar!”

MORE SEA CONTAINERS

As a distribution organisation for Pernod Ricard Holland, Delcave Services from Doesburg has taken care of the logistic services since a year. This production- and trade organisation imports exclusively for the Dutch market. Pernod imports various famous spirits like Sandeman Sherry from Spain and the sparkling Canei from Italy. Goods do not only come from Europe. Lots of strong liquids come from overseas. Whiskies from Scotland, Ireland and the US, wines from Australia and rum from Central-America. About 10 percent of the goods arrive in carefully loaded containers at the storage doors in Doesburg. “ These containers have to be emptied fast”, continues Koos Janssen while the last stack is rolling inside the storage room. “ If it takes longer than prescribed one even has to pay a surcharge.” Already at the first shipment Janssen and his six employees experienced that manual unloading was not a pleasant option. It is a tough job, ergonomically irresponsible and it just takes too much time. Only two men fit in a container, these two men needed at least 4 hours to unload whilst the permitted time is 2 hours.

IT IS FASTER, MORE RELIABLE AND CHEAPER

With the device “ it can be done faster and easier” Janssen started looking for a solution. The use of a push-pull system came up as a possibility, but it was soon forgotten when he ran into the Rollerforks at the Logistica fair in 2003. “ That system works 25 % faster and is more reliable than a push-pull unit,” says Janssen.” If you have got a bad slip-sheet without a lip you cannot do anything about it. Moreover investing in Rollerforks is 50 % cheaper. This is also an important issue.” After being accustomed to the Rollerforks in the beginning, they have been used successfully for almost a year now. The forks have been mounted on an electric four-wheeler made by Jungheinrich. It can drive inside a containers without any problems because of its height.

Of course it is possible to change the Rollerforks quickly, but these stay on the truck constantly. The maximal lift height of the energetic four-wheeler is not sufficient for all girderheights at Delcave. Koos Janssen: “ If we want we can use the truck for standard pallet transport as well. They easily fit in euros and blockpallets.” It is of great importance that high-quality slip-sheets are used when Rollerforks are used. The forks easily fit under anything, but because of the total weight cardboard with bottles could be damaged during transport. Koos Janssen:” Artificial slip-sheets are perfect; we prefer thicker cardboard when using cardboard. Working with Rollerforks is in both cases child’s play.”

AWARD-WINNING CONCEPT

Rollerforks are developed by MSE from St. Jacobiparochie. The new product was introduced at the Logistica fair in 2003. It immediately received the Logistica Award. A few months later it also won the Innovation Award from the Metal Union. The principle of the Rollerforks is as simple as ingenious. Rollerforks are in fact standard lift truck forks with two layers of rollers. When the undermost rollers touch the floor they cause the uppermost rollers to rotate in the opposite direction. In this way a load is easily placed on the forks. Unloading works exactly the same, only in the opposite loading order.

The COVID-19 has now spread to most parts of the world. Local authorities increasingly apply restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus, potentially impacting production and supply chains.

At Meijer Handling Solutions in the Netherlands we are following our standard risk protocol and doing our utmost to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our business. Some of our office employees will work remotely to secure business. Untill now we will remain fully operational.

This being said, we cannot ensure production and delivery in case the Local Authorities would announce nationwide quarantine, or the freight companies and carriers would be restricted.